Effective Learning & Effective Learning & Application production, Application production,

through Formal through Formal Modelling, & Why? Modelling, & Why?

What? How? What? How? conversationsconversations

By By Gary Boyd &Gary Boyd &

Wojciech JaworskiWojciech Jaworski, Concordia , Concordia University Montreal, CanadaUniversity Montreal, Canada,,

For WOSC 08 Wroclaw PolandFor WOSC 08 Wroclaw Poland

11

Who We are & what we wish to share

TWO PROFESSORS AT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY;

Gary Boyd – Educational Technology – techniques for teaching Educational Cybernetic Systems R&D & Management.

<boyd@education.concordia.ca> <http://alcor.concordia.ca/boydg/drboyd.html>

Wojciech Jaworski – Computer Science – teaching complex software and applications development methodology [Context+™]

gsinc@magma.ca

<http://www.freestraintdesign.com/gsinc  >

Course DesignAnd Research

Why? What ? How?Conversations.

COURSE DESIGN -8Key classes of variables 2 /

Context+Maps

Three Learning-ConversationsThree Learning-Conversations

•Why ? are we learning these techniques and tools now?

•What ? are the processes involved here, now ?

•HOW ? can we learn these better together?

• [Boyd (2004) “Conversation Theory” and Harri-Augstein S. & Thomas ,L. (1991) Learning Conversations. London, Routledge.]

The Why? conversationThe Why? conversation• What are the Aspirations &

Expectations & anxieties and time commitments of the participants?

• How we can actually collaboratively handle all by using these systemic modelling techniques and tools.

• Why study these processes in this order? (alternating top-down & bottom-up)

The HOW-TO LEARN/BUILD, CONVERSATIONThe HOW-TO LEARN/BUILD, CONVERSATION

• Start with stories about what is seen as a problem in a focal system.

• GO through the Basic Cybersystemic modelling questions (see next slides).

• Sketch a processes-relationship with the context systems graph –discuss opportunities & constraints.

• Sketch a schema for the processes , conditions, actions and objects in the focal system- discuss

• Choose the model- type or types needed ? (automata, Game, Dynamic system,?)

CYBERSYSTEMIC MODELLING CYBERSYSTEMIC MODELLING INITIAL PHASESINITIAL PHASES

• PHASE1:- From source systems identify (space, time, goals) FOCAL system ?

• Phase2.Map relations/loops between context systems and focal system?

• Phase 3 Model Focal system as an heterarchy of ? games and production systems?

e.g. Phase 2 Context system Questionse.g. Phase 2 Context system Questions

• Q1 – What are the main good (control Variety) and BAD (disturbance Variety) inputs your F/S gets from context systems?

• Q2 What are your F/S main Good and Bad outputs to context systems?

• Q3 What Feedback (-&+) loops from your outputs back to your inputs exist in the context systems?

• What are the time delays and attenuations in each loop?

Similar modelling questions are Similar modelling questions are used to construct the schemas used to construct the schemas for all subsequent modelling for all subsequent modelling

phases.phases.

The Central Question is how The Central Question is how can control variety be made to can control variety be made to exceed disturbance Variety?exceed disturbance Variety?

Formalize & ComputerizeFormalize & Computerize

• Choose the most appropriate formal representation(s) ?

• A game-drama storyboard?• the Dynamic Stack & Flow system

notation (of Stella™, Dynamo™ etc.)or• Put the schemas in Context+™ Maps

(Jaworski et al.) & convert to Java etc.

Modelling with n-dimensional directed Modelling with n-dimensional directed graphsgraphs

•Relationships• graph“Edges”• Shown through

crossbar-switch type graphic display

• Or through LHS of j-Maps

PROCESSESConditions & OBJECTSShown as nodes, or {sets} and subsets in the RHS of j-Maps

Representing directed graphs by j-notationRepresenting directed graphs by j-notation

Map –graph relationshipsMap –graph relationships

joined map schema

partial schema

partial schema

Map and generated graphMap and generated graph

Business Concepts Relations Business Concepts Relations

Business concepts and relations Business concepts and relations context+ generated graphcontext+ generated graph

Knowledge-hub for Evaluation of Business Practices

Context+ options menuContext+ options menu

Challenges we have found:-Challenges we have found:-

• Surface-learning aims –e.g. mash-up existing stuff to make X look good.

• Mere tool-options mastery focus• Context ignore-ance• LACK of Heterarchical Dynamic

Process schema conceptualisation• How to merge/join knowledge from

different sources?• Ad-hoc myopic granularity focus• Too little Quality-Attention-Time

BASIC QuestionsBASIC Questions• How much value do the stakeholders

place on this work?• What level of causal validity and

reliability and fidelity of model/simulation/application performance is therefore justified?

• Are the available people and tools capable of achieving this in time?

ReferencesReferences• Jaworski, W.M. J. (2008) Context+

Resources <www.freestraintdesign.com/gsinc  • Boyd, G. M.(2004) “ Conversation Theory”

chap.8, pp. 170-197 in Jonassen, D. H. (Ed.) Handbook of Research for Educational Communications and Technology, 2nd Edn. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.